Soliom Outdoor Solar Camera Thwarts Porch Pirate

Soliom Solar Camera Review

Table of Contents

The Soliom solar camera is looking to raise the bar when it comes to wireless outoor solar security cameras.

For the DIYer who doesn’t want to go to the hassles and expense of providing outdoor power or hiring an electrician, this might be the optimal solution.

While it isn’t designed to replace a comprehensive security or home automation solution….in my opinion, Soliom has designed a solar security camera which is completely wireless and has a self-sustaining battery which effectively harnesses the power of the sun.

Unlike most solar powered security cameras, the solar cell is not mounted separately. It is built into the camera in a removable wing-like structure.

But, does it provide enough power for normal use? Can a completely wireless outdoor security camera really stand up to the rigors of daily use? Read on and see….

Soliom Solar Camera -Questions

Outdoor Security Camera Reviews- Answers

Brochures and spec sheets are one thing….how a device performs under real world conditions in the field is another. Some of the questions we had before receiving the the Soliom solar security camera were:

How would it come packaged?

Would it be easy to set up?

Would it function properly?

How well would the video translate?

Would the IR provide decent night vision?

How well would the app perform?

Would the solar wing provide enough power to keep it running?

How well would it stand up to the elements?

Here is what we found…

Unboxing

The Soliom Solar Camera is nicely packaged and includes:

Soliom S60 Solar Outdoor Camera

1 Mounting Bracket

3- Expansion Mounting Screws

1- Solar Wing removal screwdriver

1- Reset Pin

1- Video Surveillance Warning Sticker

1- Micro USB Power adapter

Extra Gel Cover and solar wing mounting screws

Quick Start Guide

Overall…the equipment is well packaged and has a nice finished quality.

Setting Up the Soliom Security Cam

Setting up the Soliom solar camera is fairly straight forward. To get started you will need to position the device within range of your 2.4GHz WiFi Router. You will also need to connect to your network with either an Android or IOS mobile device…and download the Soliom app from either Google Play or the App Store.

Power up the Soliom…once the status bar is blinking blue …it is ready for set up.

Follow the setup instructions in the manual. You will need to have your mobile phone volume set on high. The device will give an audible alert once it connects. You will be required to type in your network password.

And once the device has been enrolled on the network…You will be asked to name it and provide a security password.

Once this is completed a tile and access to the live feed will appear on the app’s home screen…and you will have the option of sharing the feed via QR if you wish to.

The entire process is pretty straight forward…and takes less than 5 minutes.

The Soliom App

While overall, we found the App to work pretty well, we did find it a bit glitchy at times. We had some issues initially connecting, but this was resolved when we selected the 2.4 GHz network.

Reading the instructions first would have prevented that frustration…but, that’s cheating, right?

Early online ratings of the App weren’t particularly kind- but, I expect that will (has) change(d) over time as kinks are worked out in future updates.

Mounting the Soliom Camera

Because the unit is completely wireless, mounting the camera is as simple as selecting a location and screwing it in. For best results, one should choose a location which gets a couple of hours of direct sunlight per day. It should be mounted 8′ or so high.

We chose to mount it at the front entry…….

…so that we had a clear line of sight of anyone coming to the front door. The 2-Way audio also gives one the ability to communicate with anyone that comes to the front door.

Creative Outdoor Security Camera Mounting Options

Because the Soliom is solar powered and uses wireless IP protocols, it can be mounted anywhere it gets some sun and is able to get sufficient signal from your WiFi network.

Because there is no need to run wires, there is a myriad of possibilities such as:

Driveways

Garages

Pool House

Etc. including the…

Soliom Solar Cardinal Cam

Before mounting it permanently, we mounted the camera on a tripod to observe a cardinal nesting in the bushes.

Sadly, the eggs did not hatch, so we did not obtain footage of the young hatchlings. However, we were able to observe Clarice, the expectant mother, and learn a couple of things about the camera.

Weather Resistance

We encountered a couple of days of torrential downpours. Though we had to spend a couple of days cleaning up after a flooded basement, the camera didn’t have any issues weathering the storm.

Solar Charging Capacity

The camera was mounted in an area that got little more than the ambient sunlight. Nevertheless, the solar panel kept the camera powered continually.

Up to 64 GB of Local Storage – Supports up to 64GB Micro SD Card-PLUS free cloud storage

PIR and Radar Motion Sensors

The status indicator illuminates with steady and blinking green and blue states to indicate various connection scenarios.

The 1080p High Definition camera provides a panoramic field of view. A combination PIR and Radar motion sensor detects alerts and activates the recording and notification alerts.

Below is a speaker/microphone which picks up audio, allowing for “listen in” or 2-way communication…and a light sensor which automatically switches to IR “night vision” in low light situations.

Power, micro SD and charging slot complement the microphone on the bottom of the unit.

Soliom App Settings and Navigation

Once you launch the Soliom App, just depress the forward arrow in the middle of the image tile and it brings you to the main page where you will get a live image. on the top right you will see a Wi-Fi Signal strength indicator, battery status and user indicator.

There are controls that run along the bottom banner for taking manual pictures, video clips and activating the microphone to speak….as well as a control to turn audio on/off.

To get into the settings, just tap on the “gear” icon in the top right hand corner, and it will pull up the Device Settings menu. Here you can toggle on/off a number of settings, access set up, PIR sensitivity, notification settings etc.

The app is straight forward, user-friendly and very intuitive…and the user manual is concise and well written- in plain English.

Solar Outdoor Security Camera- Features+Performance

Solar Powered and Completely Wireless!

No expensive electricions…no wiring…no holes, fishing wires or drilling (other than mounting screws). This outdoor security camera has a self-contained solar “wing” panel that powers a 400mAH lithium battery. I have to admit, we were somewhat dubious about whether or not it would hold a charge and keep the unit powered, but were pleasantly surprised.

The camera continued to perform, even when mounted on a tripod in a relatively shaded area.

Of course for best results, we recommend an area that gets full sunlight for at least a couple of hours a day…but, despite the fact that we have had a wet, rainy spring…the camera’s ability to recharge on minimal sunlight (and continue to operate for days) has far exceeded our expectations.

IP66 Certified Weather Resistant

Truth be told…we are not even sure what that means…but, we do know that the camera performed without issues through a couple of days of heavy downpours. (sorry, we couldn’t vouch for the extreme temperature ratings) I only wish my basement and sumps weathered the storms as well)

Soliom Day Time Video

On a whim, we used the camera for 3 days inside with only the “wings” attached. Despite mostly cloudy conditions and only the ambient light near a window. The camera held its charge.

1080HD Daytime Image

Soliom Night Vision

….and when the lights go down…the IR takes over to provide very effective night vision capability.

Security Notifications

When it detects motion or a sensor is opened or closed- the system will send notification alerts which are virtually real time.

2 -Way Audio

Whether you are home or not, you can communicate with visitors at the front door right through the Soliom App. Once the PIR detects movement, it will send a notification and you can access the app. Just depress the microphone icon to speak to the visitors or scare away would be intruders.

Local or Cloud Storage

No expensive monthly charges. You can choose either free cloud storage or use the Micro SD slot for up to 64GB of local storage.

Ease of Installation

Just download the app, pair the device to your network and select a location where you want protection. Mount the device with 3 screws and adjust the line of sight. It doesn’t get much easier!

Soliom Solar Outdoor Security Camera Summary and Final Thoughts

Soliom set out to fill the need for a quality Outdoor Solar Powered IP Security Camera that is simple to install – at a reasonable price.

I have to admit that, although the initial specs and the feature list was impressive….I was somewhat apprehensive that the final product would live up to the advanced billing.

Perhaps I was too skeptical.

While it is not a replacement for a comprehensive security and home automation system…the Soliom Solar Camera exceeded my expectations in almost every way. I was impressed in both the day and (especially) the night vision video reproduction. It was super easy to set up. The app was user-friendly and worked reasonably well.

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